During our summer holidays in France, we had the opportunity to visit Domaine de Grangeneuve located in Drôme Provençale. This picturesque region lined with fragrant lavender is known as the northern gate to Provence. There, we spoke to the owner and sommelier Nathalie Bour about what makes Domaine de Grangeneuve successful and what inspires her. Here are her thoughts.
Note: the interview has been translated from French and edited for brevity.
Q&A with Sommelier Nathalie Bour
Maria: What made you decide to join the Domaine de Grangeneuve?
Sommelier Nathalie Bour: it was a choice that came from my heart. The winery was created by my grandparents. I saw how the winery developed and realized that it was very close to my father’s heart. My father asked me: “What would do you like to do in life, would you like to continue this adventure?” My answer was clear: I wanted to dedicate my passion for this winery.
Maria: You are very open to letting people know that a woman runs a winery. Can you tell us more about that?
Sommelier Nathalie Bour: Typically people think wineries are owned by men and they don’t imagine that a woman could be behind that. I only arrived at the winery to work thirteen years ago. At that time, my father had been the winemaker for several years. I believe people are very curious to know who is behind wine production, new wines, and new wine names. We created new wines adding part of myself and bringing in a new generation of women.
Maria: What makes The Domain de Grangeneuve successful?
Sommelier Nathalie Bour: a very close relationship with gastronomy open to the world with more flavors and aromas. I see pure wines very close to the aromas of mature grapes and close to fruit flavors. It is very important to produce accessible wines. We shouldn’t wait many years until the age of our children to be able to drink them. We need to learn to enjoy and have them ready now.
Maria: In old days people were proud to drink aged wines, what does that means today?
Sommelier Nathalie Bour: Today, the technologies implemented in wine production are much modern and adapted to new standards. We are able to keep wines longer than before even when keeping them in large barrels.
Maria: How large is your wine production?
Sommelier Nathalie Bour: We produce about 450,000 bottles of wine per year and the split between different grapes and wines are driven by the demand of our clients. We only sell to wine shops, hotels, restaurants and of course, at our winery. We are also present in the international market.
It was a real pleasure to meet Sommelier Nathalie Bour owner of Domaine de Grangeneuve. Reserve your visit at the winery and have a pleasant walk around the vineyards. While there, learn more about the different grapes and end your tour with a special tasting sitting in a room full of history.
Discover what AOC Grignan-Les-Adhemar means to family Bour (AOC: Appellation D’Origine Contrôlée: Controlled Designation of Origin).
Dining Traveler Tip: find them at the Marche Nocturne de Montelimar every Wednesday during the months of July and August where locals and tourists come to enjoy and relax, and of course, drink great wine!
Domaine de Grangeneuve, 1200 Route de Esplanes, 26230 Roussas, France Website
